Respondent overcame difficulty in the straight to dive through late along the inside to deny the favourite Ihtsahymn victory. In the run Respondent settled down in sixth position three back on the fence. The pace was moderate in the middle stages and the field raced tight in the straight. He disappointed for a run on a number of occasions in the straight and drove through a small gap back towards the rail late on, to prove slightly the better. A good effort by an under-rated horse. Ihtsahymn’s run should be totally overlooked. He went back from his wide barrier (15) and was trapped wide in the run. He worked up into the race five and six wide ranging up looking the certain winner in the straight. He battled gamely late, but the two horses were wide apart and the late burst of Respondent proved the difference. With a better run in the race Ihtsahymn would have won, but you can not take anything away from the winner who was again very good yesterday. *ANZ